CLOVERLEAF, TX – A tragic incident unfolded early this morning in a Cloverleaf neighborhood when a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed, and another teenager was injured, following a dispute that escalated into a shootout. The altercation occurred near the home of an off-duty Jacinto City police officer who heard the gunfire and responded by discharging his weapon.
The deceased teenager has been identified as Ashton Levine, a junior at North Shore High School. Levine was known for his athletic prowess, participating in both football and track and field. His family and friends are left devastated by his untimely death. “All these kids need to put these guns down,” said one of Levine’s friends, expressing the community’s grief and frustration over the violence.
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear. Deputies reported that the teenagers involved had jumped a fence into the officer’s yard. It is still uncertain whether the officer’s bullets hit the teens or if they were wounded during the initial exchange of gunfire between two groups.
The investigation is in its early stages, with law enforcement officials canvassing the area for surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is working to piece together the sequence of events that led to the deadly encounter. Meanwhile, the off-duty officer, who has been with the department since 2016, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
Community members are on edge, with many expressing fear over the incident. Ronnie, a nearby resident, recounted how he narrowly escaped injury when a bullet entered his bedroom, landing dangerously close to his nightstand. “It was like a scene from a movie,” he said, still shaken by the experience.
The other teen, a 16-year-old, was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle and is expected to recover from his injuries. The community is anxiously awaiting further developments as the district attorney’s office prepares to review the case, which may eventually be presented to a grand jury.
As the investigation continues, the Cloverleaf community grapples with the aftermath of the violence, hoping for answers and justice for the young lives affected.